James Christopher Read (born July 31, 1953) is an American actor, known for his role of George Hazard in the North and South television miniseries. He is also known for his recurring role as Victor Bennett on the supernatural series Charmed between 2001 and 2006.
Read was born in Buffalo, New York. He started acting as a student of law at the University of Oregon where he graduated in 1976. He studied acting in New York City and then did several off Broadway and regional theatres such as The Denver Center Theatre Company, where he had a couple of leading roles and spent three seasons. In 1998, he earned his Master's degree in psychology from Pepperdine University.
Read is best known for his role as George Hazard in the three North and South miniseries (1985, 1986 and 1994) based on the John Jakes trilogy of novels of the same name (his co-star, Patrick Swayze, taught him how to ride a horse), and for his co-starring role in the movie Beaches (1988).